This week hurricane Nicholas made landfall near Freeport on Monday and thankfully downgraded to a tropical depression by the end of Tuesday.  Heavy rain and winds triggered flooding and left close to 500,000 residents of TX-14 and the Houston area without power. 

As of 2pm CST on Friday, almost all of Jefferson County has power.  Brazoria County and Galveston County residents are still experiencing many outages.  I have been in touch with Centerpoint, Entergy, and Texas New Mexico power.  We are being told most customers will have their service restored this weekend, but some of the hardest hit areas are taking longer because of damage sustained.  We will continue to remain in contact with them as all power is being restored.

To access the damage,  I visited Surfside and Treasure Island in Brazoria County.  I cannot thank our first responders and public works departments enough. By seeing the damage firsthand with our dedicated public servants, I can better fight for you in DC to make sure the resources are available to clean up and rebuild from these storms.

Thank you to Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, County Commissioner Dude Payne, Judge Matt Sebesta, and Constable PCT 1 David Thacker for all you do for the people of Brazoria!

Residents who have been affected by Hurricane Nicholas are urged to complete the Self Reporting Damage Survey to help the state identify damages to private homes and businesses and to assist emergency management officials to assess the damages that occurred.

This data will determine if the state of Texas and our communities meet federal thresholds for disaster assistance. The voluntary survey, available in both English and Spanish, can be accessed by visiting https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/
Reporting damage to TDEM is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to an insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance

This data will determine if the state of Texas and our communities meet federal thresholds for disaster assistance. The voluntary survey, available in both English and Spanish, can be accessed by visiting https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/
Reporting damage to TDEM is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to an insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.

Last week, we mourned the loss of Americans who passed away far too soon in an attack that changed our nation forever, we also mourn the loss of Americans who were killed in action in the aftermath of 9/11 during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014) and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (2014-2021). We must never forget their names, we must never forget their sacrifice, and we must continue to honor their memory.

I was honored to spend an evening with the American Legion Post 554 in League City as we remembered those lost on 9/11.

President Biden inherited a southern border that was secure from President Trump. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has worked to open the southern border, not secure it. The numbers don’t lie.  Currently, in than 9,500 migrants, many of them Haitians are being held in a temporary staging area under the Del Rio International Bridge as agents worked to process them all.  Authorities believe thousands more are set to cross into the Del Rio community in the coming days. Our Texas communities are less safe because this Administration’s policies stopped building the wall, brought back Catch and Release, and got rid of the Remain in Mexico policy. It's simple - border security is national security. 

Day after day, the number one issue I hear about from our neighbors as I travel through the 14^th district is that Texans want our southern border secured.  Growing crime, drugs, terrorism, and COVID-19 transmission are all very real concerns I hear every day.  I have seen it firsthand.  Twice this year alone, I have traveled to the Southern border, once with President Trump.  We toured the processing facilities and inspected the wall.  Had President Trump’s policies not been reversed, we would not be in the situation we are in now.  His policies worked.  It kept our communities safe.

There is nothing more important than keeping our Texas families safe, both at the border and throughout our communities.  Earlier this year, I authored a resolution supporting Governor Abbott’s initiative to complete the border wall.  Additionally, I wrote a bill in Congress to redirect the fencing and National Guard troops from the U.S. Capitol to the Southern border.  Our focus shouldn’t be on each other, it should be knowing who and what is coming across our border.  I will continue the fight each and every day to make sure Texas and the United States are secure.

What you need to know:

• 208,887 illegal migrants were apprehended attempting to cross the southern border in August.
  • This is the highest August number in 21 years.
  • August is the second month in a row when encounters surpassed 200,000.
  • August 2021’s figure marks a 317% increase over August 2020.
  • This is a 340% increase from the average number of August apprehensions during the Trump administration.
  • Since Joe Biden took office, over 1.2 million illegal immigrants have been caught attempting to cross the border. This is a higher total than any year since 2001.
• More than 61,000of the illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border in August were not from Mexico or the Northern Triangle.
  • This figure marks a new high during Biden’s border crisis and debunks his claim that the “root cause” of his historic border crisis is “the winter months” and the Northern Triangle.
• Deadly drugs continue to pour across the border and crime is spiking.
  • More than 1,100 pounds of fentanyl was seized at our southern border last month – more than the previous 3 Augusts combined.
  • In the El Paso Sector, Border Patrol reported nearly double the number of attacks against its agents this year as crime rises at the border.
• Children continue to suffer under Biden’s border crisis.
  • 18,847 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the border in August.
  • More than 112,448 children have been encountered since February 1.  
  • The Biden administration has already lost contact with 1 in 3 migrant children they released between January and May of this year.
  • A whistleblower report on living conditions in HHS-run children’s facilities in Texas found children are being denied bathroom trips and have reported burnt and blistered skin from “skin lightening” lotion. 
• Biden’s reckless open borders agenda has led to COVID-positive illegal immigrants flooding into American communities.
  • In recent weeks, “more than 18% of migrant families and 20% of unaccompanied minors” tested positive for COVID.
  • One Texas county reported a 107% increase in COVID infections in a week among unaccompanied minors in its facilities.
  • While Biden is forcing a vaccine mandate for American citizens, he is not mandating the vaccine for illegal migrants.
• Biden and “Border Czar” Kamala Harris are pretending like this crisis doesn’t exist.
  • As local officials, Democrat and Republican alike, are pleading for help, we have heard almost nothing about the issue from Biden and Harris in weeks.

Sponsored and Co-sponsored Legislation

Border Security legislation authored or co-sponsored by

Congressman Weber (117^th Congress)

Authored:

• H.Res. 502 – Recognizing the border crisis as a threat to national security and supporting Gov. Greg Abbott’s initiative in completing the border wall.
• H.R. 2180 – Redirecting Resources to the Border Act – Would move fencing around the Capitol and National Guard troops to the border

Co-sponsored:

• H.R. 1259 – REMAIN in Mexico Act of 2021 - This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement the migrant protection protocols implemented by President Trump, keeping potential migrants in Mexico until they are properly processed into the United States.
• H.R. 1496 – Sarah’s Law - This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person
• H.R. 2729 – Finish the Wall Act - To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the international border between the United States and Mexico to secure the border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as mandated by Congress.
• H.R. 4630 – No Fly for illegals Act – Prohibits the use of federal funds for the airfare of aliens unlawfully present in the United States.

This Week's Co-Sponsorships 

• H.Res. 644 - Of inquiry requesting the President to provide certain documents relating to the operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Tuesday, the Washington Post reported the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the US’s highest-ranking military officer, called the senior ranking general of the Chinese military and offered to warn him in advance of any American military action against China.

Milley, who reportedly believed that Trump was unstable and might launch a politically motivated military operation, contacted the Chinese without the knowledge of the White House. He claims he had no doubt thought that his decision was for the greater good. But if he did indeed negotiate with a foreign military rival without authorization, he violated the longstanding American political tradition that the military is subordinate to elected civilian leaders.

I am deeply concerned over recent reports that General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, worked to actively undermine the sitting Commander-in-Chief of the United States armed forces. Not only did General Milley appear to interfere with the nuclear strike protocols, but if reports prove to be true, he also vowed to leak classified information to the Chinese Communist Party in advance of a potential armed conflict. This deliberately undermines the sovereign interests of our Nation and reeks of treason.

The United States is a democratic republic with a hallowed tradition of civilian control over the military—thanks to the inspired leadership of our first president, George Washington, who resigned his commission as the nation’s top general before assuming the presidency. Allowing military insubordination of this magnitude would set a dangerous precedent that undermines our Nation’s founding principles.

I have joined my colleagues in demanding the immediate launch of a formal investigation of General Mark Milley’s conduct. If these troubling concerns—which have not been categorically denied—are borne out, General Milley must resign.

Last Week's Poll Results

Do you think President Biden's vaccine mandate is unconstitutional and a broad overreach of executive authority?

League City Office Move

I am pleased to announce that our League City District Office has officially moved locations.

The new office is located at 303 East Main Street, Suite 250, League City, Texas 77573.  The phone number remains the same – (281) 316-0231.

2021 Congressional App Challenge

I am pleased to announce that my office is hosting a 2021 Congressional App Challenge.

The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications.  The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education.

The House of Representatives knows how crucial these skills are and wants to encourage students to engage in these fields.  By encouraging and recognizing our nation’s young programming talent, Congress hopes to shine a light on the growing importance of these skills.

This competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience.  We strongly encourage students of all skill levels to participate, enabling them to learn how to create their own apps.  Students are encouraged to register online and submit their apps by November 1st.  To learn more about the competition or to submit an app go to weber.house.gov.

Student Registration 

Rules
Learn to Code
Prizes 

For over 100 years, our great service academies have produced some of America’s greatest leaders.  Not only are these programs producing military leaders, they are also molding better citizens for America.  They prepare our youth to be well-rounded leaders and agile thinkers who will take their lessons of discipline and leadership with them into both military and civilian careers.

Part of my responsibility as a Member of Congress is that I am authorized to nominate candidates for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies.  Every year, I look forward to reviewing those applications.  I am always impressed by the character, selflessness, and—above all—the devotion to the ideals of our great nation.

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

Each member of Congress may nominate up to ten individuals for each vacant academy slot allotted to our district for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY.  The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Below you will find all the information  to start the process, including checklists and important dates.  This year's deadline is Friday, October 15, 2021.  I would also encourage you to watch the videos linked here called “The Five-Pointed Star.”  It’s a great overview of what each of the US Service Academies have to offer.

• 2021 Academy Day Nomination Application
• 2021 Academy Day Nomination Checklist
• 2021 Academy Day Nomination Personal Evaluation

To request a Military Academy Nomination from our office, please contact Jared Bargas, at jared.bargas@mail.house.gov or (281) 316-0231 for more information. 

Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country!